Talented pupils take to stage to land awards at arts festival

PUPILS at Sinfin Community School have won awards for their performances at this year's Derby Arts Festival.

More than 40 pupils took part in the festival's speech and drama categories at the Guildhall, Derby.

And they scooped three first places for their efforts.

Mitchell Baker and Isaak Freeman won the Duologue 13-14 years category, for their performance from Daughters of Venice, by Don Taylor.

They were presented with the Derby Academy of Performing Arts Cup and have also been invited back to the Guildhall for the festival ceremony on Tuesday, May 22.

Selected winners have been invited to perform at that event.

Mitchell, 14, of Sinfin, said: "It's overwhelming. I never knew I would get this far.

"I love drama. It's taken a big step forward in my life."

Isaak, 14, also of Sinfin, said he played the character of Bodger.

"It was easy to get into the role as his character is keen and energetic," he said.

"Winning has been a dream come true for me."

Harris Riaz, 12, took first place for his performance of Gobbo, from The Merchant of Venice, in the under-16s monologue category.

He was presented with the Mitchell Cup.

And Theodore Myrie and Dominic Riley, both 12, won first place in the 12-and-under duologue with an extract from Art, by Yasmina Reza.

Sinfin had more success when pupil Hollie Moore, 12, scooped the Georgia Cup for being a highly promising performer in one or more of the solo acting, duologue and mime categories..

In the solo acting section she reprised Joyce Grenfell's sketch Story Time, while for the duologue category she played the character of Doreen, from Alan Bennett's Green Forms.

There, she was joined by Natasha Keily, 13, playing the part of Doris.

Hollie, of Stenson Fields, has been invited to collect her cup at the festival ceremony and was over the moon when she found out the news.

She said: "I'm very happy and proud. It was a nice surprise. It was the first time I've taken part and has given me a confidence boost."

Steve Monks, head teacher at Sinfin Community School, said: "I'm delighted and proud of the success of these students."

The Derby Arts Festival runs until Saturday.

Dance Section Results

Character (9 and 10 years): 1 Christopher Anderson, 2 Ashleigh Morris and Gail Mawman, 3 Jasmine Fowler.

Cabaret duet with song (10 years and under): 1 Malaik Singh and Jessica Reilly.

Modern dance (7 and 8 years): 1 Ella May Regan, 2 Faith Hepburn, 3 Mia Hardy

Tap (9 and 10 years): 1 Bethany Rae McLean, 2 Clarissa Hinman, 3 Jessica Reilly

Cabaret duet without song (12 years and under): 1 Christopher Anderson and Eden Sully, 2 Amber Fones and Krista Jewell-Morris, 3 Anya Blyth and Lillie Wildman

Classical trios (10 years and under): 1 Mia Hardy, Ashleigh Morris and Holly Whitehall; 2 Clarissa Hinman, Amy Williams and Kate Freer

Groups (12 years and under): 1 Rollo Academy of Performing Arts

Modern dance (11 and 12 years): 1 Fabiane Leame, 2 Anya Blyth, 3 Eden Sully/Eleanor Skinner

Classical duet (10 years and under): 1 Holly Whitehall and Ashleigh Morris; 2 Mia Hardy and Ella May Regan; 3 Aimee Godwin and Sophie Gundle

Song and dance (7 and 8 years): 1 Mia Hardy, 2 Joshua Needham, 3 Mia Foster

Trios any style (12 and under): 1 Maddie Unsworth, Maisie Shearing and Georgina Thorpe; 2 Fabiane Leame, Jessica Reilly and Lillie Wildman; 3 Emma Savage, Jessica Melbourne and Bethany Rae McLean

Character (7 and 8 years): 1 Mia Hardy, 2 Tayla Yeomans, 3 Ella May Regan

Character (6 years and under): 1 Bettie Stafford-Keale, =2 Millie Statham and Ashleigh Middleton

Modern dance (9 and 10 years): 1 Holly Whitehall, 2 Jasmine Fowler, =3 Hannah Armstrong and Christopher Anderson

Modern dance (6 years and under): 1 Gracie-Lou Brooks, 2 Ella Coleman, 3 Gracie Mae Kirkham

Tap (11 and 12 years): 1 Lillie Wildman, =2 Jessica Melbourne and Fabiane Leame, 3 Kirsty Hammond

Ballet (6 and under): 1 Gracie-Lou Brooks, 2 Ella Coleman, 3 Tabitha Fessey

Classical duet (12 years and under): 1 Emma Clowes and Lucy Phillips, 2 Emma Savage and Jessica Melbourne, 3 Maisie Shearing and Georgina Thorpe

Song and dance (6 years and under): 1 Bettie Stafford-Keal, 2 Tom McCormack, 3 Grace-Mae Kirkham

Lyrical modern (11 and 12 years): 1 Fabiane Leame, 2 Eden Sully, =3 Emma Clowes and Jessica Melbourne

Ballet (7 and 8 years): 1 Mia Hardy, 2 Ella May Regan, 3 Faith Hepburn

Song and dance (11 and 12 years): 1 Fabiane Leame, 2 Eve Burrows, 3 Eden Sully

Lyrical modern (9 and 10 years): 1 Holly Whitehall, 2 Ashley Morris, =3 Aimee Godwin and Gail Mawman

Acts (12 years and under): 1 Rollo Academy of Performing Arts, 2 Cabaret Theatre School, 3 Arabesque Dance and Theatre Academy

Arts (10 years and under): 1 Rollo Academy of Performing Arts, 2 Arabesque Dance and Theatre Academy B, 3 Arabesque Dance and Theatre Academy A

Ballet (9 and 10 years): 1 Hollie Strzyweski, =2 Christopher Anderson, Ashleigh Morris and Holly Whitehall, 3 Gail Mawman

Cabaret duet with song (12 years and under): 1 Elena Foster and Jessica Boam, 2 Eden Sully and Chelsea Middleton

Tap (7 and 8 years): 1 Mia Hardy

Acro (9 and 10 years): 1 Aimee Godwin, 2 Bethany-Rae McLean, 3 Ashleigh Morris

Classical Trios (12 years and under): 1 Amber Fones, Krista Jewell-Morris, Kelsey Jewell-Morris; 2 Kirsty Hammond, Emma Savage and Jessica Melbourne

Classical duet without song (10 years and under): 1 Ashleigh Morris and Holly Whitehall, 2 Mia Hardy and Ella-May Regan, 3 Holly Russell and Cristianna Dwyer

Acro (11 and 12 years): 1 Fabiane Leame, 2 Eden Sully, 3 Georgina Thorpe

Song and dance (9 and 10 years): 1 Fabiane Leame, 2 Emma Clowes, 3 Kirsty Hammond

Trios any style (10 years and under): 1 Ashley Morris, Holly Whitehall and Jasmine Fowler; 2 Mia Hardy, Ella-May Regan and Tayla Yeomans; 3 Malaika Singh, Jessica Reilly and Frankie Godfrey

Character (11 and 12 years): 1 Fabiane Leame, 2 Eve Burrows, 3 Eden Sully

Groups (10 years and under): 1 Rollo Academy of Performing Arts, 2 Arabesque Dance and Theatre Academy